The ten to whom Paradise was promised
Ten early Muslims promised Paradise in Sunni tradition.
The ten to whom Paradise was promised (Arabic: العشرة المبشرون, al-ʿashara al-mubashsharūn) were ten early Muslims to whom, according to Sunni Islamic tradition, the Islamic prophet Muhammad (c. Several different lists of names exist, but most contain the four Rashidun caliphs Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, as well as the members of the committee (shūra) that elected Uthman as caliph: Talha, Zubayr, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, and Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas. The version that became canonical from the 9th century on also lists Sa'id ibn Zayd and Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah, though the earliest known version (c.
- field
- Early Islamic companions of Muhammad
- known_for
- Sunni tradition of promised Paradise; includes four Rashidun caliphs and shūra members
- canonical_period
- 9th century (hadith collections of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ibn Sa'd, Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi)
Lore & Background
The list of ten appears on an inscription from the palace of Khalid al-Qasri, an Umayyad governor under Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik (r. In that early version, the tenth person was Mu'awiya, the first Umayyad caliph. Later tradition replaced Mu'awiya with either Muhammad himself or Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah. Eight names are common to all versions: the four Rashidun caliphs and the four shūra members who elected Uthman. Sa'id ibn Zayd, an early convert who supported Uthman's election, is also consistently included.
Reader's Guide
The tradition of the ten mubashsharūn holds significance in Sunni Islam as a means of venerating the closest companions of Muhammad, whose emulation is a defining element of Sunnism. According to German Islamologist Josef van Ess, the list may have originated as a pro-Qurayshi or pro-Umayyad tradition, but was adopted by 9th-century Sunni hadith collectors. The list includes all major warring parties of the First Fitna (Uthman, Ali, Talha, Zubayr), thereby absolving them of civil war sins through Muhammad's promise. By the 12th–13th century, collecting hadiths praising these ten became an independent Sunni genre. In contrast, Shi'i scholars rejected the tradition as inauthentic, consistent with their rejection of the first three Rashidun caliphs as usurpers of Ali's rightful position.
Did You Know?
- The term al-ʿashara al-mubashsharūn itself dates from after the 9th century, though the list appears in earlier hadiths.
- In some versions of the hadith recorded by Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the first name in the list is Muhammad himself.
- Shi'i tradition records a hadith in which Ali ibn Abi Talib said the other nine would go to the lowest layers of hell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are 'The ten to whom Paradise was promised'?
They are ten early companions of the Prophet Muhammad honored in Sunni tradition for receiving a direct assurance of Paradise. The standard list includes the four Rashidun caliphs—Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali—plus shūra members Talha, Zubayr, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, and Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, along with Sa'id ibn Zayd and Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah.
What is the role or significance of the ten to whom Paradise was promised?
They occupy the highest tier of the sahaba (companions) in Sunni theology, distinguished by a prophetic guarantee of Paradise rather than any supernatural power. Their status functions as a benchmark for loyalty, piety, and leadership within the early Muslim community.
How does the story of the ten to whom Paradise was promised end?
Several of them went on to serve as caliphs or key military and political figures before dying in the early-to-mid 7th century. The tradition itself was preserved and fixed in written hadith collections, giving the group a lasting place in Sunni scholarship.
Why are the ten to whom Paradise was promised important to Islamic tradition?
They embody the ideal of unwavering devotion to the Prophet and the nascent ummah, making them a reference point for piety and governance in Sunni thought. Their canonical recognition from the 9th century onward reinforced their authority in matters of leadership and religious practice.
Where does the tradition of the ten to whom Paradise was promised come from?
The grouping is recorded in hadith compilations by scholars such as Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ibn Sa'd, Abu Dawud, and al-Tirmidhi, with the list becoming standard in the 9th century. Earlier versions circulated with slightly different names before the canonical ten were settled.
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